Concerning playtesting

JediYoshi · June 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">Rant over the playtesting wars</div>"How can I become a beta tester?
The ONLY way to become a beta tester is to make mature and insightful posts on the forums..."

Why isn't the FAQ updated to fit this issue. I went and looked at all the playtester for Natural-Selection. I was surprised at how many have under at least 30 posts. One even had only one. I'm not really mad about this though. Sure I want to be a playtester. And I know that there <i>is</i> another way of becomming one(making somewhat a nice map). However an extreamly large <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bob.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bob:'> has made it impossible for me to run anything WorldCraft/HammerEditor. Actually it flat out doesn't work for me.

It's just that I think(changing the subject) that with all the new people that learn about NS, you guys should let in some fresh new ideas/comments. Also the fact that some people <i>do</i> make insightful and very mature ideas on the subject manner.

Just my two cents(not trying to copy someone else's words considering I've seen this catch phrase before)

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Comprox · June 2002

Well, some testers are developers for other products, so their views are very much appreaicted by the NS team, as they have prior experience. And yes, some may be on the dev team, so they are allowed to play also.

But as for the FAQ, I agree a little better explanation would help. Also, I saw this in the forum FAQ here:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
Q: Hey the main site FAQ says if I make a lot of insightful posts I can be in the beta! My post count is XXX, can I be in the beta?
A: Maybe. Were most of those posts insightful? Did they generate a lot of deep intellectual discussion? Were they informative, well thought out, or at least well explained? Is Flayra looking for more beta testers? The simple fact of the matter is the number of posts you make does not make you more or less eligible for the beta.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
This means some person may have made 100 good posts, and 900 bad ones, and may not be a PT <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

JediYoshi · June 2002

Well, yes I agree(and knew) over the fact that more posts makes you have an even higher chance.. But, my posts are very(somewhat) informative. I mean one reason why I don't have many posts is because it takes me a while to write them(ending up in just stopping). And I've just kicked making posts into high gear about a week ago.

Answering the Qs:

Yes
Kinda(espcially this one)
Yes
<s>Can't tell</s> NO!!!

(sorry if I sound like a donkey's bottom though)

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Comprox · June 2002

Well, dedication is another factor in the chosing process. If you continue to make mostly insightful posts, your chances go up drastically, rather than someone who makes 50 great posts, and then runs away for a month and repeats <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

And the big one is that last question, is Flay looking for new testers... To tell the truth, I have no idea. He may need more because we are getting closer to release, or he may say we have enough now *shrug*

Slycaster · June 2002

Currently going off of comprox's LAST statement, i would think that since its nearing release, a recruitment of new testers would only act as spoiling it for them, the people who have been here since NSPT2, the first actual public one, have been here since day one, working hard to make this better, ie, the dev team, and the more important people (im important... right?) anyway, i really can't say exactly what flay is thinking, but if i were in his shoes, i wouldnt have more people PT, its only a few weeks to a hopeful release, and that only gives 1-2 more playtests, but time will tell...

JediYoshi · June 2002

<b>CALLING FLAYRA</b>

<i>Do</i> you need more playtesters? Or will you need more in the future(of other versions)?

You see how informative this one will be, <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> . Anyways this is kinda bad for me considering I signed up along time ago and just started to make posts and stuff a week or two ago.

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Kassinger · June 2002

He will probably pick out the most promising mappers who submit a map before the mapping deadline, so I'm pretty sure he really needs more PT if he's planning to take in a few more from the map submissions.

And JediYoshi, I think it'll be worth the wait. The first time you'll be playing NS will be when it's polished and mostly bugfree (actually we can't be to sure about that ;)).

SmokeMasta · June 2002

in my view there arnt going to be any new playtesters execept mappers that got their map into the release.
the "normal" ppl does prolly not ahjve any chance at all.
if you look at the IRC/forum bums you would see that there are massive amounts of dedicated ppl that want to playtest to but still isn't in the playtest.
at this moment "n00bs" asking for playtest would be disapointed becouse there are allot more dedicated players in teh community.

Moleculor · June 2002

Ok, some of the people with few or no posts are from <a href="http://www.ironlore.com/" target="_blank">Iron Lore Entertainment</a> who did very early playtesting and just signed up for the board because they had been given playtester status by Flayra.

The FAQ applies to those within the community.

XTS_Highlander · June 2002

I can tell you firsthand that it can be disappointing, even frustrating, to spend a lot of time trying to answer questions and help out on the forums, as well as to make mature, insightful, intellectually-stimulating posts on these forums, and yet still be overlooked for elevation to playtester (or in IRC, peon) status. I've spent most of my time on these boards doing just that, my goal being to impress the development team and earn their respect enough to enable me to perhaps be a member of an impending playtest. I'm coherent, educated, opinionated, and the majority of the posts I made (with the exception of the off-topic forum) were intended to help new members in the community, answer some needed questions, or contribute my opinion to an initiated discussion.

I'll admit that the allure of the playtest had me hooked: I wanted to be one of the people who got to play something before anybody else got a chance to, but as time wore on that gradually wore off.

The fact of the matter is, Flayra just doesn't have time to sift through these forums and pick out every single person who has been very good on these boards lately, he's too busy fabricating the mod of our dreams. Also, as people have said, it depends on whether or not he needs more people to playtest, and that's usually the deciding factor right there. If you're lucky enough to catch his eye with one of your fantastic posts, then you could get lucky, and he could ask you.

When I started out on these boards, that was probably my one goal. It seemed like an honourable goal; to attempt to attain something through hard work and dedication, and by earning another's respect. While I believe I've done that to some extent, the pursuit of the playtest is really not the only goal in this community for me now. I've decided that I'll just do what I do naturally: help people out, initiate discussion, inform people of things, and contribute my opinion in a mature, insightful matter. If the team thinks that my behaviour is worthy of bestowing upon me the playtest, then I won't stop them, but I'm not gonna go around begging for it either.

JediYoshi · June 2002

Darn, well I looked myself at the mirror and said "The truth hurts, get over it". It's out of my system by now.

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RhoadsToNowhere · June 2002

I remember having the exact same feeling as a lot of you guys when people were first starting to be picked as playtesters. Although I mostly kept it to myself, I was definitely jealous of those who had been chosen. But it's not like the dev team gets their kicks out of dangling NS just out of the reach of community members and watching them squirm to try to get ahold of it. The fact of the matter is, although having more playtesters allows you to try out bigger games and also increases your chances of finding most of the bugs or imbalances, it's a lot harder to keep everyone organized and up to speed on what's going on. I don't know if any more playtesters are going to be recruited before it gets released or not, but if you deserve it, you will indeed be rewarded. I wish I could tell you more than just to wait, but that's about all. Have patience, my friends.

JediYoshi · June 2002

I was looking at some other MODs and noticed

<img src="http://www.planethalflife.com/ssh/images/instructions.jpg" border="0">

What backstabbers those Scientist Slaghter House people are. If you didn't notice already the weapon in the picture is a welder. They messed up on that one though.

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Comprox · June 2002

And as every has one said before, play[b]testing[/b[ is not all fun and games. There can be quite some heated arguments over parts of the game (although we are all mature enough to settle down before the IRC name calling starts <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> ) And there can be the times where you crash and crash and crash and have to wait until someone comes around to let out a patch or reboot the server. And PT does take away from the normal life a lot, staying up till 4am playing is not a good idea for someone who has diplomas next week <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
/me runs off to study more

realityisdead · June 2002

Heh, no need to worry... That's just the placeholder welder. It wasn't created by the NS team. It's actually a (pretty cool, yet useless at the same time) gun from OpFor. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

SentrySteve · June 2002

*About the PT*

Maybe the first two weeks I was here I wanted the PT, then I dont know why, but that desier just faded away. I was having fun just being a part of the community. As you hear all these great things about NS and how each game is its own story it makes you want the PT, it makes you want NS. I would love to have the PT, not to play the game before other people, but to play it with my friends -- and maybe add a few crtisism here and there <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> However, I think some people (althought I will not mention names) deserve the PT more than others. I can think of one person right now who should have it, and if I was offered the PT I would probably ask Flay, or whoever asked me to be a PT, if the person im thinking of could have it. I think his maps would play better if he knew how the game went. Plus, I am not greedy -- I have a peon in #ns, I dont <i>need</i> the beta right now, but it would sure be fun to PT Beta 2, or Beta 1.X.

f3rret · June 2002

hehehe... I've signed up to be a beta tester for about 7 different games in the past month. I'll be impressed if I even get one of them. I can't even name some of them if you ask me now...

I'll either play them now, or when they come out. Either way, it's no big deal. I actually have TOO MANY games and TOO LITTLE time right now... bleh.

Flayra · June 2002

A lot of people have gotten really worked up over this. The real issue isn't to give PT status to everyone that's worthy. The real issue is making sure we have the right number of PTs. There are tons of people on these forums that would be great PTs, we just don't need any more people.

Please don't take the fact that you haven't been selected as a PT as a sign that the dev team doesn't like you or that you're not a respected member of the community. We just don't need anyone else right now!

At any rate, NS will be here before you know it, so the matter will be moot anyways.

XTS_Highlander · June 2002

And there you have it folks, the official word, no more playtesters are needed. Time to sit back, relax, and prepare for The Great Release.

<img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/turret.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':turret:'> <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'>

<img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/siege.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':siege:'> <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pudgy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pudgy:'>

Flayra · June 2002

No more playtesters are CURRENTLY needed. If and when we need more playtesters, they will be selected in the usual way. I'm trying to across the point that there are more qualified people then we have slots.

Xerxes · June 2002

Does 6 grand make me qualified enough? <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> *Flees!*

JediYoshi · June 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Flayra @ June 24 2002,17:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...If and when we need more playtesters, they will be selected in the usual way...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Well, what exactly <i>is</i> the usual way of picking PTs?

JediYoshi <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/siege.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':siege:'>

coil · June 2002

Flayra hand-picks them. There's no secret way to become a playtester, "post on XYZ saying ABC and you'll get an invite to the next playtest"... you just have to be here a while, know the game well, show that you're a mature individual with valuable insight. If Flayra feels that you would be able to provide a valuable critique of the playtest, maybe you'll get an email from him.

I'll give you a hint... and I only say this because you seem to want to be a PT really badly... ranting about the PT selection system is definitely not the way to get in.

JediYoshi · June 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (coil @ June 24 2002,18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'll give you a hint... and I only say this because you seem to want to be a PT really badly... ranting about the PT selection system is definitely not the way to get in.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
It's not that I <i>want</i> to be a playtester. I just asked one harmless question and then gave an idea. Only a while ago did I bring up the fact that I wanted to be a PT. I also technically didn't rant about it. I said "Rant over the playtesting wars" not <i>a</i> rant over the playtesting wars. I really won't feel bad at all, and I don't BADLY want to be a PT.

Thanks for the advice though! I'll try and stop doing this.

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Hand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_Again · June 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'll give you a hint... and I only say this because you seem to want to be a PT really badly... ranting about the PT selection system is definitely not the way to get in.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

It's Catch-22, innit?

The only way you'll get noticed as being a potential playtester is if you ask about becoming a playtester, and the only way you'll be chosen as a playtester is if you never ask about becoming a playtester.

Oops. Did I just invalidate my chances? <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Comprox · June 2002

Give and you shall receive <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> (I think that is how we are chosen)

Give your heart and soul in any way shape our form, and you shall receive if the spots are needed. When the first news of PT's came out, of course I wanted to, but I would accept it either way without hinting at it <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> If you are a good person in the community, it gets noticed, trust me!

CyonPro · June 2002

I don't think I ever asked about being a playtester, and apparently I just became one three days ago (according to the e-mail I almost deleted).

So you don't necessarily have to ask about PTing in order to be noticed, I guess. I'm sure Flayra is always watching <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>.

JediYoshi · June 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Hand Me The Gun And Ask Me Again @ June 24 2002,19:03)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The only way you'll get noticed as being a potential playtester is if you ask about becoming a playtester, and the only way you'll be chosen as a playtester is if you never ask about becoming a playtester.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
LOL, That's hilarious <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

JediYoshi · June 2002

Something a bit off topic here. I though making a new post becaus eof this is a bit much. But why in <a href="http://readyroom.org/ns_ingame/pt0521ns_hera0208_8x6.jpg" target="_blank">this</a> picture is the Alien's blood(or whatever it is that's inside them) red? I mean is it some placeholder gore or something. If it is there to stay, you might want to rethink that.

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coil · June 2002

Current Alien blood is green. That shot is, I think, from Playtest #5 - we're on #10 now. Things change. (:

JediYoshi · June 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (coil @ June 24 2002,19:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Current Alien blood is green...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Couldn't the Alien fluids be multi-coloured. I mean green is a bit of an obvious color. Like CS, there blood is red, dark red, even darker red.

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Concerning playtesting

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